Gifts or Strategy? India Hands Over Vehicles, Horses, and Dogs to Nepali Army
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday formally handed over a set of military supplies to the Nepali Army at a special ceremony held at Army Headquarters in Kathmandu. He presented Chief of Army Staff General Ashok Raj Sigdel with light strike vehicles, critical care medical equipment, two trained military dogs, and six horses.
According to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, the assistance reflects the long-standing trust and close ties between the two armies. Speaking at the event, Misri emphasized that such cooperation strengthens defence relations while embodying the spirit of friendship and mutual confidence that has defined Nepal–India ties for decades.
The Nepali Army welcomed the support, describing it as a contribution that would add new energy to bilateral relations. Officials said the gifted animals and equipment will be stationed at Army Headquarters.
Some of these items had been pledged earlier but had not been delivered on time. By completing the handover, both sides sought to highlight what the Indian Embassy described on social media as a symbol of “Nepal–India Friendship” and “Defence Cooperation.”
Misri arrived in Kathmandu on a two-day visit Sunday. Along with the ceremonial handover, he delivered Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, and also held meetings with President Ramchandra Paudel, Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Maoist Center Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda.” Before returning to Delhi, Misri paid homage at the Pashupatinath Temple.
The visit and the handover underline how defence, political, and cultural dimensions continue to intersect in Nepal–India relations, raising questions about how both sides might institutionalize such cooperation in the coming years.
